Machine for repairing runs in fabrics



Feb. 4,1930. w. D. VAN DYKE 1,745,462

, MACHINE FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRICS m Aug. 28, 1928 5 2 She ets -Sheet 1 I INVENTOR I I WILLIAM DEAD ERICK VAN DYKE Feb. 4,- 1930.

' w. D. AN DYKE MACHINE FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRICS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1928 INV ENTOR WILLIAM DEADERICK VAN DYKE 042$. ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To 'KAYSER HOSIERY MOTOR MEND CORPORATION, OF

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE MACHINE FOR REPAIRING RUNS IN FABRICS Application filed August as, 1928. Serial No. 302,535.

The invention relates to a machine for reforming or .relooping the dropped loops which forms runs in stockings and other knitted fabrics.

Itis a common practice at present in repairing the runs or ravels in knitted fabrics to reform the dropped stitches or loops by means ofa hook needle sometimes provided with a pivoted latch, and thus called a latch needle, 0 and which needle is reciprocated manually through the fabric while it is advanced along I the length of the run, during which re'ciproc ity movement the ladders forming the run are successively caught, looped over the next succeeding ladder and the operation repeated to restore practically the continuity of the original looped knitted structure,

Such manual operations are necessarily slow and tedious and the success is dependent largely upon the skill of the operator. The

' primaryobject of the invention is to provide for a more rapid relooping of the run in the knitted fabrics than is physically possible by practicing the known manual operation of a looping needle. It is required for the most perfected form of repair work of this character that the tension on the reformed loops and in general the arrangement, location and set of the reformed loops should approxiistics of the loops which form the balance of the fabric. However, the requisite uniformity and evenness of tension on the threads and the duplication of the machine formed loops is practically. impossible to attain following the usual manual relooping operation.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a simple form of machine for relooping the dropped stitches forming a. run in the knitted fabric rapidly and with the uniformity of tension and resulting appearance characterizing the dropped loops so that the reformed part shall have the appearance of the remaining portionofthe machine knit fabric. Broadly, this object is attained by duplicating in so far as is physically possible, the same mechanically exact knitting operation as was used to form the original 60 line of loops which became unfastened and thus formed the run. One means for attainmate as closely as possible to the character- 'ing this-result is by manually maintaining a manipulation, and at the sametime by regu-- lating the length of reciprocatory movement so that there is attained a nicety in the resulting uniformity in tension placed on the threads as they are successively relooped one over the other and in general a duplicating of. the original machine formed loops.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified means for automatically disconnecting the driving connection between the source of mechanical power and the reciprocating needle when the needle meets with a resistance greaterthan that which has been prefixed as .necessary to the proper functioningof the needle thereby to prevent the needle from injuring the fabric being repaired, or itself Still another object of the invention is to provide an automatic cut-off of the power when the needle is thrown below the work or is drawn above the work beyond a predetermined point.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention, and the invention also consists in certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed. 0

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the tool sleeve.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the same showing the guide Key.

Fig. 4 is a cross section showing the drive.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a viewshowing how the pivoted latch form of tool works on a run in a piece of hosiery and Fig. 7 is a modified form of thetool shown in Fig. 1 in which a sliding stopped at any time,

or below of pulling latch needle replaces the pivoted latch needle-- Referring to the showing in Fig. 1, the tool comprises a needle a with a hook b on its end, and a swinging latch c that normally swings open to permit the grasping of the thread as shown in Fig. 6. However,wl1en the needle is used to pull a loop through a loop, the latch 0 guides the thread of the latter loop from being hooked by the hook which has grasped the first loop. However, this much of the construction is old, and is now used in connection with hand operated tools. Sometimes a sliding latch form of needle 2% is used, as shown in Fig. 7 in place of the pivoted latch needle and both of which needles will be referred to in the claims as having a thread actuated latch for closing the book. In the showing inFig. 7 the specific form of needle illustrated'is more fully described in the patentto Finch, No. 1,674,508.

In either case the needle is held in a small chuck e on the end of the reciprocating rod f, which passes through the handle or sleeve h. At the upper end of this handle the fiexible wire 9 passes out the handle and into the machine housing 2', the wire being connected by a connecting rod 1' with a revolv-' ing crank wheel k. Thiscrank wheel has a relativelysmall contact with the driving cone m, which is pressed against the crank wheel by means of the spring 11. This driving cone is splined onto the driving shaft 0 to slide freely. The driving shaft 18 driven off the motor M by means of a worm wheel 12, and a worm 1-. The tension of the spring a may be adjusted by a nut s.

This is lntended as a very light driving connection and by adjusting the nut s the driving connection can be arranged to slip when a given resistance is met by the reciproeating needle. If, for instance, the operator pulls the loops or the threads too far above the work, the tension of the threads at this point can be made to overcome the engagement of the friction drive, and consequently the machine will automatically stop and prevent injury tothe work by means too hard on the threads. Furthermore, by simply placing the finger on the reciprocating chuck e the machine can be as this will easily overcome the driving engagement of ,the clutch members. a

In operation and assumlngthat the motor is running, and with the parts in the position shown, the needle is inserted through the fabric which has been stretched to dis-.

osethe run in a straight line with the hook end of the needle engaging the last formed loop at the end of the run. Itis preferred practice to work the needle conventionally reciprocating it up and down through the fabric for a few times, forming the first one or two loops manually to insure a smooth is fed along the length of the runwith the hook side in advance until the opposite end of the run is reached when the operation is interrupted, the needle removed and the last loop caught and permanently secured as by stitching following the usual conventional practices in this respect.

During this operation and considering the case where a pivoted latch needle is used the needle functions"conventionally in that in its forward movement when inserted between the loop which defines one end of the run and the first unlooped thread or ladder of the run, the loop slides over the free end of the latch. As the needle is raised in its reverse direction the loop ,sliding back against the latch swings it against the hook. The latch in the meantime reaches for and grasps the next thread of the ladder which is held by the closing of the .hook until a new drawn through the previous-loop whic then cast oflf the needle. This successive reaching forward for the-next ladder thread, engaging the same, forming a loop by drawing the engaged thread through the preceding loop and then casting off the preceding loop is continued to the-end of the run as is well known in relooping operations and needs no detailed description.

If the operator holds the tool in the proper position with respect to the work the reciprocations will not take place too far above or below the plane of the work, and there will be no strain on the work. The machine will keep on working, but as soon as the operator changes the position of the tool so as to put undue strain on the work, the machine will automatically throw off. The operator has the reciprocating needle under complete conloop is formed and which formed 100E 1s trol at. all times by simply placing the thumbv or finger on the chuck to stop the operation.

While operating on the fabric, it will be held in any convenient manner-so as'to most conveniently expose the run. This may be done in any conventional manner now used where the needle is actuated manually. Preferably and in the case where a finely woven stocking is being repaired, it may be stretched over a specially designed holding frame. An embroidery frame or an egg cup have been found. particularly convenient as a fabric holding means as they permit an easy advancing of the fabric in the case of a long run and as the material can be stretched rigidly a firm tensioned section of material is exposed for operation.

' It 15 understood that in those cases where one relooping operation is not sufficient to eliminate the showing of the run as where there is more than one line of drop stitches, the operation may be repeated until all of the runs have been taken up, relooped, and

the fabric restored to its original completely open and taut advance with the needle along thelength of the run. She is not required to pay any attention to the rate of reciprocatory movement of the needle, nor to the distance of advance or retreat of the needle for all of these variables are set and regulated mechanically.

As a result, there is a resulting uniformity of reciprocatory movement of the needle in its successive looping operations insuring a uniformity in the formation of the successive loo 5 and the elimination of irregularities whlch are apt to be produced by nonvariance in the nervous impulses of the manually actuated strokes even by the skilled operator. In general, the mechanical actuation of the latch needle, in distinction from .reciprocatory movement, thus protecting both the fabric and the needle from mutilation.

Claims:

1. In a machine for relooping. the dropped loops forming a run in a knitted fabric, the combination of a reciprocatin looping needle free to move bodily and he d by the hand in operative position relative to the run in the fabric to reloop the dropped loops as the needle advances along the run and power means operatively connected to the needle to cause it to function.

2. In amachine for relooping the dropped loops forming a run in a knitted fabric, the

- combination of a hand tool comprising a handle means of which. the ma can be held manually in operative position relative to the run in the fabric, a looping needle mounted for operative movement in the handle and adapted to reform. ,the dropped loops and power mechanism acting on the needle to cause it to function mechanically. 6;

3. In a device for relooping the runs in a knitted fabric, the combination of a motor, a power transmitting wire, means between one end of the wire and the motor for translating the rotary movement of the motor into reciprocatory movement of the wire, a tool chuck secured to the free end of the wire, a looping needle demountably positioned in the chuck, and hand supporting means through which the free end of the wire reciprocates for holding the needle in operative, position as it is guided along the run to be reloopcd;

4. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabrics, the combination of a motor.

a power transmitting wire having one end operatively connected to the motor to be reciprocatcd thereby and a loop forming needle attached to the other end of the wire and a handle for supporting the needle, adapted to be held manually as the needle is advanced along the run under repair while the needle reciprocates relative to the handle to reloop the dropped loops forming the run.

5. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabrics, the combination of a loop forming needle adapted to reform the dropped loops forming the run, a handle for holding the needle in position guided along the length of the run, and mechanism for reciprocating the needle relative to the handle, said mechanism including means for limiting the length of reciprocatory movement of the needle thereby to provide a uniformity in the length of stroke of the needle during its relooping operation.

6. In a machine for repairing runs in knitted fabrics, the combination of a handle, a latch needle mounted for reciprocatory movement in the handle and arranged to pull a thread through a loop to make a second loop and so on, power transmitting mechanism operatively connected to the needle to cause it to function, said mechanism including a friction clutch organized to permit an automatic release of the power acting on the needle when a given resistance is met.

7. In a machine for relooping the dropped stitches forming a run in a knitted fabric, the

combination of a handle, a latch needle mounted for reciprocatorymovement in the handle and adapted to'reform the dropped loops forming the run when reciprocated through the fabric as the run and needle are advanced relative to each otheralong the length of the run, power means, .a driving connection between the power means and the needle to cause the needle to'functi on mechanically, said driving connection including slip clutching means for automatically disconnecting the needle from the power means permitting the power means to run idly for the time'being while the needle is restrained through a loop to make a second loop, and so on, a handle provided with a rod reciprocat-' ing therethrough and terminating infa clutch for carrying said needle, a means for oonvert-' ing rotary motion into rectilinear motion, a flexible wire connecting such rod with such motion converting means, and a friction ro tary drive for such motion converting means arranged to slip when -a given resistance is met with either at the Work or by finger'control of the clutch.

10. In a device for relooping the runs in a knitted fabric, the combination of a source of energy, a power transmitting means leading therefrom, a tool chuck at the other end of said. means, a looping needle having a movable thread actuated latch detachably positioned in the chuck, said power transmitting means including mechanism for reciprocating the chuck and the needle and also including flexible means for permitting a freedom of movement of the needle, and means through which the needle reciprocates for holding it manually in operative position as it advances along the run to be relooped. 11. In apparatus for relooping dropped loops forming a run in aknitted fabric, the combination with relatively stationary means for supportingthe fabric to expose the run, of a bodily movable reciprocating hook needle held by the hand in operative position relative to t the support and the run, said needle having a movable thread actuated latch for opening and closing the hook, andpower means operatively connected to reciprocate the nee'dle and cause the same successively to reloop the cross threads as" the needle advances along the run relatively to the support.

12. In apparatus for relooping dropped loops forming a run in a knitted fabric, the combination with relatively stationary means for supporting the fabric to expose the run, of a bodily movable reciprocating hook needle held by the hand in operative position relative to the su port and the run, said needle having a sliding thread actuated latch for opening and closing the hook, and power means operatively connected to reciprocate the needle andcause it successively to reloop the cross threads as the needle advances along the run relatively to the support.

13. In apparatus for relooping dropped loops forming a run in a knitted fabric, the combination with relatively stationary means for supporting the fabric to expose the run of a bodily movable reciprocating hook needle held by the hand in operative position relative to the support and the run, said needle having a movable thread actuated latch for opening and closing the hook, and power mechanism operatively connected to reciprocate the needle and successively re loop the cross threads as the needle advances 7 along the run relatively to the support, said mechanism including means for automatical-. ly stopping the needle upon a predetermined resistance. to the reciprocatory movement of theneedle. I 7

14. In apparatus for relooping dropped loops forming a run in a knitted fabric, the combination with relatively stationary means for supporting the fabric to expose the run, of a bodily movable reciprocating hook needle held by the hand in operative position relative to the support and the run,

said needle having a sliding thread actuated latch for opening and closing the hook, and power mechanism operatively connected to reciprocatethe needle and successively cause the same to reloop the cross threads as the needle advances along the run relatively to the support, said mechanism including means for automatically stopping the needle upon a predetermined resistance to the action of the needle and independently of thecontinuity of the action of the driving mech anism. 1 I

15. In apparatus for. relooping dropped loops forming a run in a knitted fabric, the combination with relatively stationary means for supporting the fabric to expose the run, of a bodily movable reciprocating hook needle held by the hand in operative position relative to the support and the run, said needle having a movable thread actuated latch for opening and closing the-hook, and powermechanism operatively connected to reciprocate the needle and cause the same successively to reloop the cross threads as the needle advances along the run relatively to the support, said mechanism including a; slip device for automatically stopping the needle upon a predetermined resistance to the action of the needle and independently of the continuity of the driving mechanism.

16. In apparatus for relooping dropped loops forming a run in a knitted fabric,

the combination' with relatively stationary same to reloop the cross threads as the needle advances alon' the run relatively to the support, said mec anism including a sli device for automatically stopping the nee e upon 3 a predetermined resistance to; the needle and independently of the driving means.

17. In a device for relooping the runs in a knitted fabric, the combination of a source of energy, a power transmitting means leading therefrom, a tool chuck at the other end of said means, a looping needle having a movable thread actuated latch detachably positioned in the chuck, said'power transmitting means including mechanism for reciprocat- 15 i'ng the chuck and the needle, flexible means Q for (permitting a freedom of movement of the nee 1e, means through which the needle reciprocates for holding it manually in operative, position as it advances along the run 0 to be relooped, and means for automatically stopping the needle upon a predetermined resistance to the action of the needle independently of the continuity of action of the driving mechanism.

5 18. A hosiery repair machine, including a source of motive power, a flexible shaft, means for transmitting motion from said source of motive power to said flexible shaft, and a hosiery repair needle operated by said shaft.-

ao 19. In a hosiery re air machine, a motor,

a shaft rotated there a flexible shaft associated with said motor, means to convert the rotary motion of the first-mentioned shaft 1 into reci rocating motion of said flexible 86 shaft, an a repair needle actuated by said flexible shaft.

20. A hosiery repair machine, including a motor unit, a shaft operated thereby, a worm on said shaft, a friction drive operated by 4% said worm, a crank operated b said friction drive, a shaft actuatedby sai crank, and a repair needle connected to said shaft.

21. In a hosiery repair machine, a source of motive power, a repair needle, and a flex- 45 ible and inextensible shaft connecting the needle to the source of-motive power.

' 2 2. In a hosiery repair machine, a source of motive ower, a repair needle operated thereby, a exible and inextensible shaft connecting the needle to the source of motive power, and means associated with the needle to render the source of motive powermoperative.

23. In a-hosiery repair machine, a source 66 of motive ower, a repair needle operated thereby, a exible and inextensible' shaft connecting the needle to the source of motive power, and arbitrarily actuated means associated with the needle for rendering the 60 source of motive power inoperative. v

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 17th day of August, A. D. 1928.

- 6 WILLIAI DEADERICK VAN DYK E. 

